AUSTRALIA, from visionary filmmaker Baz Luhrmann, is an epic and romantic action adventure, set in that country on the explosive brink of World War II. In it, an English aristocrat (Kidman) travels to the faraway continent, where she meets a rough-hewn local (Jackman) and reluctantly agrees to join forces with him to save the land she inherited. Together, they embark upon a transforming journey across hundreds of miles of the world’s most beautiful yet unforgiving terrain, only to still face the bombing of the city of Darwin by the Japanese forces that attacked Pearl Harbor. With his new film, Luhrmann is painting on a vast canvas, creating a cinematic experience that brings together romance, drama, adventure and spectacle. It’s an adventure as epic as the land in which its story unfolds.
Twentieth Century Fox presents “Australia,” starring Academy Award®-winning actress Nicole Kidman (“Moulin Rouge!,” “The Hours”), Hugh Jackman (the “X-Men” trilogy, “The Prestige”), David Wenham (“300,” “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy), Bryan Brown (“Breaker Morant,” “The Thorn Birds”), Jack Thompson (“Breaker Morant,” “The Good German”), David Gulpilil (“Walkabout,” “Crocodile Dundee”), David Ngoombujarra (“Rabbit Proof Fence,” “Ned Kelly”) and introducing 13 year-old newcomer Brandon Walters as Nullah.
At the farthest end of the world, a woman sets out in search of her husband and finds herself plunged into upheaval and adventure beyond her wildest imagination.
Lady Sarah Ashley (Nicole Kidman) has spent her life in pursuit of superficial perfection, but a loveless and childless marriage has left her bereft of anything meaningful beyond her stable of horses. Convinced that her husband is cheating on her, the headstrong Sarah journeys from London to the remote tropical outpost of Darwin, Australia, to confront him.
Her reluctant guide through the vast, unforgiving terrain of the Northern Territory is the Drover (Hugh Jackman), a rough-hewn cattleman as rugged as Sarah is refined. Their profound mutual dislike is tempered by tragedy when Sarah suddenly finds herself caring for an enchanting young orphan called Nullah (Brandon Walters), a half-Aboriginal, half-Caucasian boy adrift in a segregated society that treats him as an outcast.
Meanwhile, Faraway Downs is on the edge of ruin, and scheming station manager Neil Fletcher (David Wenham) is plotting with cattle baron King Carney (Bryan Brown) to hasten its demise and take over the property themselves.
To save Faraway Downs, Sarah must join forces with the Drover and drive 1,500 head of cattle across Australia’s breathtaking yet brutal landscape. Along with Nullah, they are joined on their quest by a mistfit band of ranch hands and homesteaders, including alcoholic accountant Kipling Flynn (Jack Thompson), the Drover’s trusted Aboriginal stockmen Magarri (David Ngoombujarra) and Goolaj (Angus Pilakui), and a mysterious tribal magic man known as King George (David Gulpilil).
Transformed by the power and beauty of the land and her bond with Nullah, Sarah becomes the woman she truly wants to be, and her contentious relationship with the Drover gives way to grudging respect, admiration and finally, love.
But when the sinister machinations of war reach the shores of Australia, Sarah and her unlikely new family are torn apart. For the first time in her life, Sarah has something to fight for – and it will take passion, courage and determination as great as the mysteries of the ancient continent to protect the people she loves.
RMIT Movie Club will try to bring you chances to watch the movie exclusively in cinemas in Vietnam at the end of this year. Also, please watch out for our late December quiz at the end of this week.
Merry Christmas, everyone!
